Wornears
06-01-2006, 10:49 PM
RANT ON
I should not have given in. I vowed not to buy another TT via remote location because then it had to be shipped. I recently lost a NAD TT that was packed fairly well to the UPS tribe of monkeys. Thankfully the seller was capable enough to go through the insurance refund claim process and I got most of my money back. That was the last one, I vowed. Any future TT would be picked up in person.
Why didn't I listen to myself? I succumbed while trolling ePrey and bought a Sony PS-X60 that looked perfect for $75 + shipping. I was looking forward to the automatic operation and adjustability of the stock tonearm, and to using it as a spare listening deck to replace my original owner Dual 510 I've been using for that purpose.
I took all the steps I could, except perhaps performing a brain transplant on the seller. I sent a nice email linking to AK's Packing section -- specifically on how to pack a TT.
And in case the pictures were too hard to follow, I included a careful description of the packing steps to take -- like removing the platter and packing it separately. Removing and packing the dustcover separately, removing the tonearm counterweight, and the cartridge, securing the tonearm -- you know, the really tough stuff.
I even paid an extra $10 to the shipping price for extra packing material and shipping insurance so the seller could really do this right. "Don't worry. I pack good," was the reply. I should have killed the transaction right then, but the feedback was near 100%, so maybe English wasn't the seller's primary tongue.
I knew from the first clank of the box on the steps as I picked it up this afternoon, to go get the digital cell phone camera and take images of the progress of unpacking so I could reveal the carnage in it's first-view status.
It wasn't pretty. The TT really was in mint condition before it was shipped -- but now it was beat all to hell! The platter (not removed or packed separately) had danced inside the dust cover (also not removed) and busted or cracked all four corners.
The platter had hit the Sony's tonearm so hard, and so many times, the headshell (also not removed) was bent up at a 45-degree angle, and the tonearm pivot mechanism was bent enough to reveal a gap between its parts! The whole pivot mechanism has about a 1/16th inch of play side-to-side now. I didn't even bother to turn the deck on for fear the automatic mechanism would probably spit a gear out the side.
What a waste, and what a bonehead seller. Now I have to go through the refund hassle.
Anyone got a spare PS-X60/70 arm laying around?
RANT OFF -- thanks for the bandwidth
I should not have given in. I vowed not to buy another TT via remote location because then it had to be shipped. I recently lost a NAD TT that was packed fairly well to the UPS tribe of monkeys. Thankfully the seller was capable enough to go through the insurance refund claim process and I got most of my money back. That was the last one, I vowed. Any future TT would be picked up in person.
Why didn't I listen to myself? I succumbed while trolling ePrey and bought a Sony PS-X60 that looked perfect for $75 + shipping. I was looking forward to the automatic operation and adjustability of the stock tonearm, and to using it as a spare listening deck to replace my original owner Dual 510 I've been using for that purpose.
I took all the steps I could, except perhaps performing a brain transplant on the seller. I sent a nice email linking to AK's Packing section -- specifically on how to pack a TT.
And in case the pictures were too hard to follow, I included a careful description of the packing steps to take -- like removing the platter and packing it separately. Removing and packing the dustcover separately, removing the tonearm counterweight, and the cartridge, securing the tonearm -- you know, the really tough stuff.
I even paid an extra $10 to the shipping price for extra packing material and shipping insurance so the seller could really do this right. "Don't worry. I pack good," was the reply. I should have killed the transaction right then, but the feedback was near 100%, so maybe English wasn't the seller's primary tongue.
I knew from the first clank of the box on the steps as I picked it up this afternoon, to go get the digital cell phone camera and take images of the progress of unpacking so I could reveal the carnage in it's first-view status.
It wasn't pretty. The TT really was in mint condition before it was shipped -- but now it was beat all to hell! The platter (not removed or packed separately) had danced inside the dust cover (also not removed) and busted or cracked all four corners.
The platter had hit the Sony's tonearm so hard, and so many times, the headshell (also not removed) was bent up at a 45-degree angle, and the tonearm pivot mechanism was bent enough to reveal a gap between its parts! The whole pivot mechanism has about a 1/16th inch of play side-to-side now. I didn't even bother to turn the deck on for fear the automatic mechanism would probably spit a gear out the side.
What a waste, and what a bonehead seller. Now I have to go through the refund hassle.
Anyone got a spare PS-X60/70 arm laying around?
RANT OFF -- thanks for the bandwidth